Published
My experience is limited, but three of my kids have needed dental surgery. They were done at a freestanding surgery center affiliated w/ our Children's Hospital. They didn't make my kids void. Granted the procedures were under 2 hrs and I don't believe they had foleys in either. I think they just told us to call if they hadn't by the next day.
In nursing school we did clinicals in the PACU area of day surgery...that was some yrs ago, but I don't remember the pts having to void.
Only our urology cases, and some (not all, depends on the surgeon) hernia patient's must void.
We did have a male patient s/p varicose vein stripping who ended up in ER after discharge because he couldn't void. So you never know. There certainly is some justification for the requirement in specific cases.
Are you aware that ASPAN, the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nursing, has standards to which to refer? Check them out.
Clinical Practice Frequently Asked Questions
Here's the specific one you asked about:
http://www.aspan.org/Clinical-Practice/FAQs#24
They specifically mention bladder scans, and attention to the reasons why many people shouldn't be expected to void, but why some really should.
olderthandirt51
6 Posts
Do you make all of your outpatients void before discharge?